Release BP Agents Jose Compean & Ignacio Ramos

[evp5O]

Ramos is an eight-year veteran of the U.S. Naval Reserve and a former nominee for Border Patrol Agent of the Year.

On Feb. 17, 2005, he responded to a request for back up from Compean, who noticed a suspicious van near the levee road along the Rio Grande River near the Texas town of Fabens, about 40 miles east of El Paso.

Ramos, who headed toward Fabens hoping to cut off the van, soon joined a third agent already in pursuit.

Behind the wheel of the van was an illegal alien, Osbaldo Aldrete-Davila of Mexico. Unknown to the growing number of Border Patrol agents converging on Fabens, Aldrete-Davila's van was carrying 800 pounds of marijuana.

Unable to outrun Ramos and the third agent, Aldrete-Davila stopped the van on the levee, jumped out and started running toward the river. When he reached the other side of the levee, he was met by Compean who had anticipated the smuggler's attempt to get back to Mexico.

"We both yelled out for him to stop, but he wouldn't stop, and he just kept running," Ramos told California's Inland Valley Daily Bulletin. Aldrete-Davila crossed a canal.

"At some point during the time where I'm crossing the canal, I hear shots being fired," Ramos said. "Later, I see Compean on the ground, but I keep running after the smuggler."

At that point, Ramos said, Aldrete-Davila turned toward him, pointing what looked like a gun.

"I shot," Ramos said. "But I didn't think he was hit, because he kept running into the brush and then disappeared into it. Later, we all watched as he jumped into a van waiting for him. He seemed fine. It didn't look like he had been hit at all."

The commotion and multiple calls for back up had brought seven other agents – including two supervisors – to the crossing by this time. Compean picked up his shell casings, but Ramos did not. He also did not follow agency procedure and report that he had fired his weapon.

"The supervisors knew that shots were fired," Ramos told the paper. "Since nobody was injured or hurt, we didn't file the report. That's the only thing I would've done different."

Had he done that one thing differently, it's unlikely it would have mattered to prosecutors.

More than two weeks after the incident, Christopher Sanchez, an investigator with the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General, received a call from a Border Patrol agent in Wilcox, Ariz. The agent's mother-in-law had received a call from Aldrete-Davila's mother in Mexico telling her that her son had been wounded in the buttocks in the shooting.

Sanchez followed up with a call of his own to the smuggler in Mexico.

In a move that still confuses Ramos and Compean, the U.S. government filed charges against them after giving full immunity to Aldrete-Davila and paying for his medical treatment at an El Paso hospital.

At trial, Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra Kanof told the court that the agents had violated an unarmed Aldrete-Davila's civil rights.

"The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled it is a violation of someone's Fourth Amendment rights to shoot them in the back while fleeing if you don't know who they are and/or if you don't know they have a weapon," said Kanof.

Kanof dismissed Ramos' testimony that he had seen something shiny in the smuggler's hand, saying that the agent couldn't be sure it was a gun he had seen.

Further, Kanof argued, it was a violation of Border Patrol policy for agents to pursue fleeing suspects.

"Agents are not allowed to pursue. In order to exceed the speed limit, you have to get supervisor approval, and they did not," she told the Daily Bulletin.

Those shell casings Compean picked up were described to the jury as destroying the crime scene and their failure to file an incident report – punishable by a five-day suspension, according to Border Patrol regulations – an attempted cover up.

The Texas jury came back with a guilty verdict. Conviction for discharging a firearm in relation to a crime of violence has an automatic 10-year sentence. The other counts have varying punishments.

"How are we supposed to follow the Border Patrol strategy of apprehending terrorists or drug smugglers if we are not supposed to pursue fleeing people?" said Ramos, who noted that he only did on that day what he had done for the previous 10 years. "Everybody who's breaking the law flees from us. What are we supposed to do? Do they want us to catch them or not?"

He also noted that none of the other agents who had responded to the incident filed reports that shots were fired and, besides, both supervisors at the scene knew they had discharged their weapons.

"You need to tell a supervisor because you can't assume that a supervisor knows about it," Kanof countered. "You have to report any discharge of a firearm."

"This is the greatest miscarriage of justice I have ever seen," said Andy Ramirez of the nonprofit group Friends of the Border Patrol. "This drug smuggler has fully contributed to the destruction of two brave agents and their families and has sent a very loud message to the other Border Patrol agents: If you confront a smuggler, this is what will happen to you."

The El Paso Sheriff's Department increased its patrols around the Ramos home when the family received

[lagirl2]

If they are really free that's very good news.

[evp5O]

They aren't free LaGirl

I just want to remind everyone that they are still in prison
and more work needs to be done to get them out.

[evp5O]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- There was an unusual spectacle in the nation's capital Tuesday, downright rare, in fact: U.S. Senators seeking truth, and justice, and taking action. And they deserve great credit and thanks.


Lou Dobbs says two convicted border patrol agents should be released from prison immediately.

The Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, led by Dianne Feinstein, focused on the reasons for the prosecution of two Border Patrol agents now serving long sentences in federal prison. Border Patrol Agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean were given terms of 11 and 12 years respectively on their convictions for shooting an illegal alien drug smuggler.

Senator Feinstein, and Senators Jeff Sessions, John Cornyn, Jon Kyl and Tom Coburn demanded answers of U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton, who chose to prosecute Compean and Ramos and give that illegal alien drug smuggler blanket immunity to testify against the men.

Sutton's decision to prosecute the agents, to file attempted murder charges against them and seek harsh mandatory prison sentences was simply an outrage. Senators Feinstein, Sessions and Cornyn took Sutton to task over what they clearly see now as a blatant abuse of prosecutorial power and strongly questioned the decision to give immunity to a known illegal alien drug smuggler. Sutton's office gave the smuggler immunity in order to prosecute the two agents who had pursued him in a high-speed chase, which ultimately resulted in the wounding of the drug dealer who had ditched his van, loaded with hundreds of pounds of drugs, and ran from the agents.

Don't Miss
Read Judiciary Committee testimony on the case
Lou's book "War on the Middle Class"
Previous Lou Dobbs commentaries
I have maintained throughout that the prosecution of these two agents was unwarranted, that sufficient facts were in dispute that the case should never have been brought to trial. The two Border Patrol agents received excessive sentences by any reasonable standard of justice. But reason did not prevail, and the Senate Judiciary Committee has begun the process of righting this wrong.

The agents were serving their nation in a war zone along our southern border. The fact is Mexico remains the primary corridor for drugs entering the United States. Mexico is the principal source of heroin, cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamines into this country. Between 70 and 90 percent of cocaine entering the United States from South America passed through mainland Mexico or its waters. Heroin brought in from Mexico accounts for about 30 percent of the U.S. market, despite Mexico's relatively small percentage of worldwide production. Mexican traffickers continued to dominate drug distribution in the United States, controlling most of the primary distribution centers. Our border with Mexico is the main battlefield in the war against drugs, and the federal government has treated Ramos and Compean with contempt rather than gratitude for their service on the front lines of that war.

Border Patrol Chief David Aguilar Tuesday testified at the hearing that from February 1, 2005 to June 30, 2007, there were 1,982 incidents where Border Patrol agents have been assaulted. These assaults include rock throwing, physical assaults, vehicular assaults as well as shootings. In response, Border Patrol agents have responded with the use of deadly force on 116 occasions, with 144 agents discharging their weapons during these 116 incidents.

Aguilar also testified that 13 assailants died as a result, and 15 incidents ended with the assailants being wounded. Of the 144 agents involved, comprehensive investigations were formally conducted, and not a single agent has been criminally prosecuted for their actions. Then why in the world did Sutton choose to prosecute agents in this case? The senators did not like U.S. Attorney Sutton's answers.

TJ Bonner, president of the National Border Patrol Council, the union that represents Ramos and Compean, expressed anger at the sentences Tuesday and said the Border Patrol is suffering as a result: "The ramifications of this case [will be felt] by the Border Patrol," Bonner said. Bonner added an anecdote about a former Border Patrol recruit who eventually declined joining and said "You have to be crazy to join this outfit, because you eat your own."

Senator Feinstein and Senator Cornyn announced Tuesday night on our broadcast that they have decided to request that President Bush commute the sentences of Ramos and Compean. The family of Ignacio Ramos watched and listened to the senators make their announcement in our Washington, D.C., bureau, and they were moved to tears

[evp5O]

[Deleted]

Jun 27, 2008 0:43:07 GMT -5 evp5O said:

Behind the wheel of the van was an illegal alien, Osbaldo Aldrete-Davila of Mexico. Unknown to the growing number of Border Patrol agents converging on Fabens, Aldrete-Davila's van was carrying 800 pounds of marijuana.

As far as I'm concerned, if you are in this country illegally, you have no civil rights in this country.

Let alone if you are in the country illegally and committing a crime.

[evp5O]

Updated video


www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2008/06/19/ldt.border.betrayal.cnn

[Deleted]

The other side of the coin

;D ;D ;D

[zenmastercivillian]

Ramos and Campeon should be given MEDALS. What's happening with the movement to get them freed?

[Bailiffoldaccount]

Senator Feinstein and Senator Cornyn announced Tuesday night on our broadcast that they have decided to request that President Bush commute the sentences of Ramos and Compean.

Where...where am I? The room...got dark. Head...spinning. Somebody...help me up....

[Bailiffoldaccount]

The border ain't an easy place lately....


Outrage on the Border

Relations between the US and Mexico are further strained after a murder suspect is set free.
By KTRH's John Labus
Friday, June 27, 2008
It all started in January, in the desert outside Yuma, Arizona, where Border Patrol Agent Luis Aguilar was run over and killed by an alleged drug smuggler.

And that's not the outrageous part. "Within a very short period of time they arrested an individual, who supposedly confessed to the murder. And about five months later, inexplicably, a Mexican judge released him, supposedly on a technicality."

TJ Bonner with the National Border Patrol Council - the union for border patrol agents - compares this case to that of Border Patrol Agents Jose Compean and Ignacio Ramos -- who are each serving lengthy prison sentences in the US for shooting a known drug runner. "I don't know that there is any relationship between the two, but it's just further evidence that the relationship between these two countries is named after many streets in large cities; One Way."

Officials in Mexico have not commented on the reasons why the suspect was released, and US officials haven't said why they weren't pursuing extradition more aggressively. "The frustration, not just within the ranks of the Border Patrol, but the frustration of the general populace in the United States, is reaching the boiling point; enough is enough."

We also wanted comment from officials at Customs and Border Protection, but were unsuccessful.

Printed from: www.ktrh.com

[sco2colorado]

I'm sorry...I know it's harsh, but to hell with it. You are illegal and commit murder, rape, etc...you should be summarily executed and your body thrown across the border for the mexican government to worry about. This is tantamount to WAR, and I believe we need to act accordingly.

[zenmastercivillian]

Jun 28, 2008 20:01:09 GMT -5 sco2colorado said:

I'm sorry...I know it's harsh, but to hell with it. You are illegal and commit murder, rape, etc...you should be summarily executed and your body thrown across the border for the mexican government to worry about. This is tantamount to WAR, and I believe we need to act accordingly.

It's not harsh at all. HERE, HERE!!!!

[irishcop32]

Kanof dismissed Ramos' testimony that he had seen something shiny in the smuggler's hand, saying that the agent couldn't be sure it was a gun he had seen."



That's right Debra he should have waited until he was freakin shot. Would it be all right with you if returned fire then?

Oh! but wait Debra, by then he could have been DEAD!!!

You, Debra, are a walking POS!!

[73loser]

I've followed this case since the 2 Border Agents were arrested and indicted.

My question is this. There has been quite a bit of press about this case, numerous LE organizations have spoken out on it, even some of the damn Democrats have started talking about it. Does anyone think that the US Attorney who prosecuted these INNOCENT men (who is a personal friend of George Bush, worked as his private attorney, worked for him when he was Governor of Texas) is being protected by the Feds to save face?

It sickens me to think that these 2 men are sitting in prison as political pawns because of the bullsh1t ties that our gov't has with Mexico.

[evp5O]

The US attorney has to have some cloak of protection.

Lou Dobbs has being doing a hell of a job keeping this case
in the news. Not a big fan of CNN but Lou is pushing harder
than the others on this.

[evp5O]

bump

[vancouverpd]

I'm certainly no fan of Feinstein but good on her. Though I can't help thinking her motives are anything but political. She'd have probably given each of them 20 years.

I've lost a lot of faith in Bush and his ass-kissing of Mexico. If he leaves office without pardoning these guys it's as bad as all of the crooked friends the Clintons pardoned when they left.

A pox on the bunch of them.

Anyone know of a petition we can sign or a fund for their defense or the families we can contribute to?

[evp5O]

There was an emial pettition going but I need to dig it up.

[Deleted]

This was posted on another Rant site and reminded me of the awful injustice being done to Agents Compean and Ramos.

All to often, we, retired and active L/E people concentrate on the actual legalities of the case and forget about the horrible toll the families suffer.

Below is a letter from the wife of Agent Compean to a man who started a campaign to free her husband and Agent Ramos.

Dear Mr. Elliott,

Thank you so much for your continued support. I must tell you
that the children and I are hanging in there. Our last visit
with Jose was a very good one, although I
couldn't help but
wonder how our youngest, who is now 2 years old would react to Jose.

Even though he's never met Jose and has very little connection
with him, I try to make sure that both our boys don't forget who
their dad is. I show him pictures of his dad and constantly tell
him that Jose is his dad.

When that time of the month comes for our 15-minute call, I
always make certain he hears Jose's voice. I'm happy to report
that my efforts seem to be blessed because during this last
visit, my young son knew Jose was his dad. My heart nearly
burst when he called him dad and gave him a hug. These tiny
moments are the ones that we savor because unlike so many
others, they are all we have right now.

This last visit was such a blessing because it was our first
as a family since his incarceration, and Jose was able to
spend some quality time as father to his kids.

It has been tough. Jose,
the kids and I are still trying to cope
with leaving him behind. I've got to admit, it doesn't get any
easier. In fact, it seems to get worse with every visit because
it's a cold reminder of how much time has been lost. These
precious family moments can't be returned or relived. That's
the hardest part.

This truth is especially tough on Jose. When he turned himself
in to authorities, our children where 12, 2 and 3 months old.
Now they are 14, 4, and 2. He's already missed the first baby
steps, words, graduation from diaper to potty and my oldest son's
first dance. Unless there's a miracle, Jose will have missed a
whole lot more.

But we are pressing on day by day. My goal right now is to get
the family to a place where no matter what happens we will be
okay. In other words, if Jose is released but can't find a job,
or if he's forced to serve his whole sentence we will be taken
care of. That's
a pressing concern, but it's also something I
don't want Jose worrying about. I will make sure that I can
provide for us so that he doesn't have to worry about it. It's
my burden, and I'm happy to take it from him.

A few personal notes, Jose is able to shower daily since he has
a shower in his "suite" and the times he's needed medical
attention
he's gotten it. I do know that he has several pen pals and is
receiving letters, cards, pictures and reading material from
many Grassfire team members. He specifically wanted me to thank
the team for their continued support and prays that it continues.

We all covet your prayers, and pin our hopes on the day when he is
returned to us!

Thanks again for all you are doing to help us.

Patty

[evp5O]

Ramos And Compean
645 Days In Prison Of 4015 day sentence